Dictation type mask with combined switch and air control



April 14, 1959 H. L. WEBB DICTATION TYPE MASK WITH COMBINED SWITCH AND AIR CONTROL Filed Dec. 21. 1953 FIG 2 FIG.

FIG 4 FIG 3" ATTORNEY.

United States Patent DICTATION TYPE MASK WITH COMBINED SWITCH ANDAIR CONTROL Horace L. Webb, Fairfax, Va.

ApplieatiomDecember 21, 1953, Serial No. 399,383

1 Claim. (Cl. 179-188) This invention relates to an ambient sound-excluding mask device of the type used for recording speech in electric dictating machines as for court reporting and as generally exemplified by such patents as those granetd to me Nos. 2,526,177; 2,572,547 and 2,625,615.

In using a mask of the character aforesaid, correct breathing by the reporter or dictator is highly desirable and essential and it is the main object of the instant invention to provide novel means to facilitate and insure inhalation to a greater degree than heretofore. Toward this end I employ a manually operable means to control the path for air through the mask.

It is a prime object too, to have such a means accomplishing the result mentioned which may be combined with and be operated through manipulation of the electric switch which controls operation of the microphone and dictating machine to thus function dually and through the same operation as a switch and automatically as a fresh air hole, air demand or breather control.

Another important object is to provide means which attains the sought advantage while the mask is in dictating position.

Still another object is to provide in such a mask for the escape of air at the aforesaid switch control during actual dictation and while insulated against the entrance of ambient sound.

I further provide such a mask as may be maintained ventilated and sanitary throughout and the additional objects and advantages will appear from a consideration of the description following taken in connection with the accompanying drawing illustrating one operative embodiment.

In said drawings:

Fig. 1 is a side elevation;

Fig. 2 is an end view looking from the left of Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is an enlarged sectional view taken substantially on the line 33 of Fig. l with the switch in closed position;

Fig. 4 is a sectional view substantially similar to Fig. 3 but with the switch in open position;

Fig. 5 is a fragmentary electrical diagram showing the connection of the switch control; and

Fig. 6 is a side elevation of a modified form of mask device.

Referring specifically to the drawings wherein like reference characters designate like or similar parts throughout the different views and first to the form of Figs. 1 to 5, the mask structure may generally take any approved form in carrying out my invention. As shown, it may employ a casing comprising a body 10, a facefitting diaphragm or mask member 11 and a body closure 12 equipped with a knob 12. Said diaphragm is flexible to adapt itself for fitting over the mouth and nose and for intimate marginal contact with the face, being of rubber or the equivalent and either permanently or removably secured to the body 10. As shown the diaphragm is wedged into body and additionally secured thereto by bolts 13.

Body 10 and closure 12 while shown as separably secured together may be made in one piece and in either event are preferably rigid and of metal, rubber, other plastic or any equivalent.

An electrical switch device of any approved form generally designated S, preferably moisture-proof, controls the usual operating circuit at contacts 15 in conductors or feed wires 16 leading from a source of electricity through a microphone M detachably carried by mask 11 to a dictating machine as diagrammatically suggested in Fig. 5. Either in the wall of easing body 10 or closure 12, one or any number of fresh air, breather or air demand holes 17 are provided and the casing body and closure are interiorly hollow so that an air path exists through the holes 17, casing body 10 and diaphragm 11, to and from the mouth of the dictator or reporter. While the opening and closing of said holes 17 may be effected independently of switch S, my invention well lends itself to combination therewith.

Said switch S has a movable or operating member 18 which is slidably depressible although the invention may be practiced where the switch operator has an arcuate, universal or other movement.

Said switch device with its conducting parts suitably insulated is mounted by means of a fastening tube 19 and clamping nuts 20 threaded thereon in an opening of a supporting means 21 rigid or integral with and extending rearwardly from a closed front wall 22 of closure 12. A guide tube 19 is located in the bore of tube 19 and extending slidably through the guide tube 19 is a stem 23 on the depressible operating member 18. Said operating member has a shank 24 extending slidably through an opening 24 in closure 12 carrying terminally and exteriorly thereof an operating head or button 26.

At the junction of stem 23 and shank 24, are valve means for holes 17 shown in the form of an arcuate plate or plates 25 to whose convex surfaces are suitably cemented or otherwise fastened layers or sheets 25 of foam rubber, cloth, cellulose or the equivalent which is so constructed as to be sound-insulating and porous to the extent of permitting limited passage of air therethrough. A coil spring 26 surrounds stem 23 and bears against plates 25 and guide sleeve 19*- normally urging on biasing the switch operator 18 upwardly or outwardly to the position of Fig. 3 wherein the valve means substantially close holes 17. Said Fig. 3 shows the parts of switch S in the preferred circuit closing position while consistently Figure 4 shows them in open circuit position, although this arrangement is optional. The arcuity of plates 25 will avoid undue turning of switch operator 18 relative to the casing but any additional or positive means for this purpose may also be employed.

Presuming operation the structure is held by one hand at the knob 12 and the diaphragm contacted with an expanse of the face of the dictator or reporter covering his mouth and nose and reporting or dictation proceeds when switch S is closed, that is, in its outermost position as in Fig. 3. The porosity of layers 25 in the closed position of valve plates 25 although furnishing sound insulation permit escape of air therethrough while actually dictating, but when the air in the lungs is expended by speaking and inhaling is in order, button 26 is depressed by a finger of the hand holding the structure whence atmospheric air will enter holes 17 and take a path through the closure 12, casing 10 and diaphragm 11 to te face of the reported or dictator. Without moving the structure from or varying the dictating position thereof, fresh air is always available to the reporter and the path for inflow thereof is automatically controlled through the opening and closing of the switch S, that is control of the operation of the microphone M and dictating machine.

While as previously set forth a fresh air breather or air demand control may be employed which is operated independently of the electric switch S, various other changes may be resorted to within the spirit and scope of the invention, and for instance as shown in Fig. 6. The latter figure conforms to the first form except the casing 10 corresponding to parts 10 and 12 of the first form, may be made in one piece and the fresh air breather or air demand inlet may be mounted in the main or larger part of the casing under control of a switch S corresponding in structure and mounting to switch S and of which the depressible member 18 corresponds to that shown at 18. In the modified form the means 21 could be on the main or any part of the casing 10*- rather than the part corresponding to knob 12.

What is claimed is:

A sound receiver of the class described comprising a hollow casing closed at the front end and open at the rear end to receive sound, the receiver between its end extremities being provided with a longitudinally extending transversely arcuate wall portion provided with a hole to afiord an air path through the receiver, a breathing control device having a laterally extending valve plate interiorly of the casing shaped in conformity with said portion and coacting with said hole, a control member on said valve plate in spaced relation to said hole extending diametrically through said wall portion for ex terior operation, structure carried by and within the closure including a tube slidably mounting said control member to enable said valve plate to cover and expose said opening, a biasing spring on said member engaging said tube and inner face of said plate, and material on the face of said valve plate opposite to said face for covering disposition at said hole, said material being of l-i unsk re ndiaa.Patur also being Porous to enable limited passage of air therethrough.

References Cited the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,508,310 Van Houte Sept. 9, 1924 1,678,842 Aiken July 31, 1928 2,572,547 Webb a- Oct. 23, 1951 

